Valve-indicator post.



No.'630;278. Patented Aug. I899. E. C. WILEY.

VALVE INDICATOR POST.

(Application filed may 25, 1899.) We M0 161.) 3 Shear-Sheet I.

m: uoRms rzrzns co, PHOYO-LIYND, WASHINGTON. o. c.

'No. 630,278. Patented Aug. l, I899.

E. C. WiLEY.

VALVE INDICATOR POST.

(Application filed May 25, 1899.)

Ulo Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 630,2?8, Patented Aug. I, I899. E. C. WILEY;

VALVE INDICATOR POST.

' (Application filed May 25, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 $heets-Sheet-3.

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EDGAR CLARENCE \VILEY, OF LYN CHBURG, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONF- HALF TOII. E. MCXVANE, OF SAME PLACE.

VALVE-INDICATOR POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,278, dated August1, 1899.

Application filed May 25, 1899.

T ttZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR CLARENCE W1- LEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lynohburg, in the county of Campbell and 5 State ofVirginia, have invented a new and usefulValve-Indieator Post, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved valveindicator employed toindicate the position of avalve whether open or shut or partially inthese positions.

To this end the invention primarily contemplates a novel form ofvalve-indicator particularly useful in mill-yards and other locationswhere valves for gas, water, and Waterpipes are usually placed beneaththe surface of the ground and the valve-operating spindles or rods areextended upward through a tubular post or valve-box, so as to be readilyaccessible to provide for manipulating the valve from the surface of theground. Frequently in operating valves arranged in this way a twistingof the valve-operating spindle or stem or other causes may render itimpossible to tell whether the valve is open or closed, but by the useof the present invention this objection is entirely obviated by providin g convenient and reliable means forpositively indicating theposition of the valve. In carrying out this object the inventionprovides an eflicient operating mechanism for manipulating the valve atthe surface of the ground, as well as to provide a positive andperfectly-reliable telltale for indicating its proper position.

iVith this and other objects in View, which will more readily appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The principal features of the invention are susceptible to a variety ofmodifications without departing from the spirit or scope there of, butthe preferred embodiment of the improvements is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of avalve-indicator embodying the improvements contemplated by the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the$erial No. 718,243. (No model.)

construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an en larged detail verticalsectional View through the indicator-casing at the upper end of thetubular post and the indicating mechanism housed therein. Fig. at is asectional View on the line 4 4 of 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectionalView on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of theoscillatory indicating or telltale frame.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates a Wateror similar main of the type usually placed in the ground, a materialdistance below the surface thereof, and provided with the ordinaryvalve-casing 2, within which is located the usual valve. (Not shown.)Ordinarily the valve which is associated with a water or similar main isof the type commonly known as a gate-valve, having the stem 3 thereofextended through the guide-boxing 4 and carried by the bonnet or cap 5of the valve-casing, and which cap or bonnet 5 is usually flanged, as at6, and bolted to the flange at the upper side of the valvecasing bymeans of a plurality of clampingbolts 7. In the present invention a pairof these clamping-bolts 7 at diametrically opposite sides of thevalve-casing, cap, or bonnet are extended or elongated to form clampingmeans to engage with the flange at the lower end of the base of theupright or tubular post or standard 9, which is sometimes termed avalve-box, which forms a housing for the valve-operating spindle thatextends to the surface of the ground. I

The tubular post orstandard 9 is preferably made of separate sections 10and 11, flanged and bolted together at their contiguous meeting ends, asat 12, and the lower of which sections 11 is enlarged at its base, as at13, so as to fit the cap or bonnet 5 of the valve-casing and be fastenedto the flange thereof in the manner already explained. The said tubularpost 0 is of a sufficient length to extend from the valvecasing of themain to the surface of the ground, and the upper section 10 of the postis formed with an indicator-case 14, which serves as a housing for theoperatingparts of the indicatingortelltale machine.

The indicator-case 14 at the upper end of the.

tubular post is preferably rectangular in crosssection and is providedin diametrically opposite sides thereof with oppositely-locatedwindow-openings 15, exposing therethrough the indications or marks whichindicate the position of the valve. The said cross-sectionallyrectangularindicator-case 14 is provided with an open upper side havingat the inner edge thereof an annular rabbeted seat 17, removablyreceiving therein a retaining-plate 13, the function of which will bepresently referred to. The said open upper side of the indicator-casingis inclosed by a detachable cap 19, having a flanged rim 2O fitting overand embracing the upper peripheral edge of the indicator-casing andremovably held in place by the fastening-bolts 21.. Arranged formovement within the indicator-casing 14 is an oscillatoryindicating ortelltale frame 22, which bears the indications or marks for in.-dicating the position of the valve. The said oscillatory indicatingframe 22 essentially comprises a pair of parallel side bars 23 andoppositely-located segmental dial-heads 24, connecting the oppositeextremities of said bars and formedintegrally therewith.

The oppositely-located dial-heads 24, respectively at opposite ends ofthe indicatingframe, are of a sufficient length so as to always lie overor cover the inner sides of the windowopenings 15irrespective of theposition of the frame, and to provide for exposing the proper marks orindications of the segmental dialheads 24 there is placed upon the outerconvexed'faces thereof the words Open and Shut or other equivalentmarks, which are arranged in different horizontal planes, so as to bealternately exposed through the windowopenings as the indicating ortelltale frame assumes different positions. It will be observed that thewords Open and Shut upon the opposite dial-heads 24 are respectivelyarranged in reverse order, so that the same word or indication will beexposed through both window-openings at the same time.

To provide for the support of the indicating or telltale frame withinthe housing 14 therefor, the said frame is provided upon the upper sidesof its side bars 23 with the diametrically opposite trunnions 25, whichloosely and detachably rest in the bearing-notches 26, formed atdiametrically opposite inner sides of the case 14 in a vertical plane atright angles to the vertical plane of the windowopenings 15, and toinsure the retention of the trunnions 25 within the bearing-notches 26the top retaining-plate 18 is provided near the opposite edges thereofwith pendent guardarms 27, having recessed lower ends 28 lying directlyabove the trunnions 25, as plainly illustrated in Fig. 1 of thedrawings.

Of course when the top plate is removed the oscillatory indicating ortelltale frame is also free to be removed from its inclosed casing.

By reason of mounting the indicating or telltale frame in the mannerjust described the same is permitted to have an oscillation upon thetrunnions 25 as an axis, so that the segmental dial-heads 24 will playover the inner sides of the window-openings 15, and said indicating ortelltale frame has projected integrally from the inner sides of each ofthe dial-heads 24 thereof a pair of offset lugs 29, connected by apivot-pin 30, adapted to be loosely and detachably engaged by the forkedadjusting-finger 31. The forked adjustingfinger 31 is formed integrallywith and projected from one side of a vertically-movable sleeve-nut 32,the inner threads of which engage the exterior threads 33 of a rotatablesleeve-spindle 34. The rotatable sleeve-spindle 34 works in the verticalalined openings 35 and 36, formed, respectively, in the cap 19 and thetop retaining-plate 18 and is provided with an annular supporting-collar37, engaging between contiguous central portions of the cap 19 and thesaid plate 18 to provide for properly retaining the spindle in place, sothat it may have rotation in a fixed plane. The upper extremity of thesleeve 34 is provided with the usual wrench-engaging head 38.

The interior socket of the sleeve 34 is squared and receives therein thevalve-operating rod 39, having a swiveled connection 40 at its lower endwith the upper end of the valve-stem 3.

In the operation of the device the wrench is placed upon the upper endof the sleevespindle 34, and it is rotated either to the right or theleft, accordingly as the valve is to be opened or closed, and thisrotation of the valve-spindle in turn revolves the. valve-operating rod9 and the valve-stem connected therewith to provide for causing amovement of the valve in the usual way. WVhen the sleeve-spindle 34 isrotated, the sleeve-nut 32 necessarily moves up and down and through themedium of the finger and pivot-pin connection with the oscillatoryindicating or telltale frame provides means to swing this frame in adirection to expose through the windowopenings the words Open and Sh ut,corresponding to the correct position of the valve or valve-gate.

Inasmuch as some types of valves open by turning the operating-spindleto the right and others by turning the said spindle to the left it isnecessary to make provision for the indicating or telltale frame toproperly operate under either of these conditions. To secure thisresult, each of the dial-heads 24 is provided in the inner side thereofwith a pivotpin 30, so that either one of the pivot-pins may be engagedby the forked finger 31 of the sleeve-nut 32. It will be obvious that byreversing the forked adj listing-finger 31 from one pivot-pin 30 to theother the motion of the oscillatory or telltale frame will be reversedto correspond with the right or left hand motion of the valve-operatingspindle.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described valve-indicator will be readilyapparent Without further de scription, and it will be understood thatvarious changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit orsacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed is 1. In avalve-indicator, a casing having oppositely-located Window-openings, andan oscillatory indicating or telltale frame supported Within the casingand bearing the indications or marks, substantially as set forth.

2. In a valve-indicator, the casing having oppositely-located\vindow-openings, an oscillatory indicating or telltale frame supportedWithin the casing and having duplicate indications or marks respectivelyat opposite ends, substantially as set forth.

3. In a valve-indicator, the casing having oppositely-locatedWindow-openings, and an oscillatory indicating or telltale frame havingat the ends thereof dial-heads bearing the indications or marks,substantially as set forth.

t. In a valve-indicator, the casing having oppositely-locatedopenings,an oscillatoryindicating or telltale frame having at the endsthereof segmental dial-heads bearing the indications or marks, and thevalve-operating spindle having an operative connection with said frame,substantially as set forth.

5. In a valve-indicator, the casing having oppositely-locatedwindow-openings, an oscillatory indicating or telltale frame supportedWithin the casing and having at the ends thereof dial-heads bearing theindications or marks, and a valve-operating spindle having an operativeconnection with the oscillatory frame at either side of its axis,substantially as set forth.

6. In a valve-indicator, the casing having oppositely-locatedWindow-openings, an oscillatory indicating or telltale frame supportedwithin the casing and provided at the ends thereof with segmentaldial-heads bearing thereon the indications or marks, and avalveoperating spindle in operative connection with said frame,substantially as set forth.

7. In a valve-indicator, the casing having oppositely-arrangedWindow-openings, an oscillatory indicating or telltale frame supportedWithin the casing and comprising a pair of parallel side bars andsegmental dial- 5 5 heads connecting the ends of said side bars in aplane at the inner side of the Windowopenings, said dial-heads bearingupon the outer faces thereof the indications or marks, and avalve-operating spindle having an operative connection with saidoscillatory frame, substantially as set forth.

8. In a valve-indicator, the casing having oppositely-locatedwindow-openings, anoscillatory indicating or telltale frame havingoppositely-arranged dial-heads and provided intermediate of the latterwith bearing-trunnions supported at the sides of the casing, and thevalve-operating spindle having an operative connection With said frame,sub stantially as set forth.

9. In a valve-indicator, the casing having oppositely-locatedwindow-openings, and a pair of opposite bearing-notches, an oscillatoryindicating or telltale frame having oppositely-located dial-heads andprovided with trunnions loosely and detachably resting in saidbearing-notches, the retaining-plate fitted to the casing and providedwith depending guardarms lying above the trunnions of the frame, and avalve-operating spindle having an operative connection with said frame,substantially as set forth.

10. In a valve-indicator, the casing having oppositely-arrangedWindoW-openin gs, an osoillatory indicating or telltale frame havingoppositely-located dial-heads, each of which is provided at the innerside thereof With an offset pivot-pin, an eXteriorly-threadedsleevespindle journaled at the top of the casing, and in operativeconnection with the valve-operating rod, and a sleeve-nut fitted on saidspindle and provided with a forked adjusting-finger engaging either ofsaid pins, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDGAR CLARENCE WVILEY.

Witnesses:

W. P. PERKINS, F. W. WHITAKER.

